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4 Jun 2008
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I never saw the benefit in having twin exhausts on a single cylinder engine when many twin cylinder engines manage perfectly well with a single exhaust! As well as the weight penalty it interferes with pannier mountings.
josephau: What about keeping the GS for the moment and getting a really lightweight 250-400cc low-cost second-hand trail bike to help improve your technique? At only 20 kg lighter than the 12GS I don't think the Ténéré will allow you to have the confidence to build your technique.
I appreciate it's not the advice you're after, and logic has nothing to do with bike purchasing decisions. 
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4 Jun 2008
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Spot on!
Exactly what I have thought on bikes like the Honda Dommie:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis
I never saw the benefit in having twin exhausts on a single cylinder engine when many twin cylinder engines manage perfectly well with a single exhaust! |
+ no matter which side you drop the bike, a silencer is going to get damaged.
Totally agree about the weight saving on the new(ish) 1200GS over the 1150: I have mused for some time about that loss of 30Kg, compared with all the new offerings from Honda etc that are increasing in weight.
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4 Jun 2008
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Thanks Tim for your suggestion. Having more than one vehicle is not exactly on my agenda, because a) I don't have a garage, and b) I used to have a car and a bike, then realized I never really get to know or enjoy either. Besides, I doubt that I want to get into too hardcore of dirt riding. I know it may sound a bit contradictory to my earlier comments, but I do see a difference, at least for me, between hardcore offroad and soft ones. In addition, while the weight is an issue on offroad, it is a positive thing on highway to gain stability. As you and others say, there is no perfect bike for all road conditions, but I am trying to figure out that personal sweet spot in a large common grey area.
I just read another guy who test-drove a F800GS and a Tenere, and he is trading his Africa Twin for the Tenere. He agrees on the lack of power on the Tenere comparing to the F800, but he seems to love everything else of the Tenere.
This friday I am making a test drive on the Tenere with the seat taken out and my sitting on some blankets in order to solve the seat height problem.
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4 Jun 2008
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Take a look at the F650GS as well, at least it's the right height for you!
Quote:
we headed backwards on the same route (like mostly off-road) now mounted on the F650GS, mag wheels and all – yes I know all the BMW press has said that this is no off-roader, but off-road we took ‘em. Let me tell you folks – this little wunderkind is the unsung hero, with my jaded cranium now fueled with Espresso and not  , I found myself chucking this little bugger around on the dirt with a huge grin on my dusty lips.
For a bike that’s not meant to be off-road – this one took everything that I threw at her – sure it doesn’t have the suspension travel that the big brother 800GS has, but it still handled the dust proper. If you’re a person who’s travelling down the West Coast and you see a dirt highway you want to investigate, but you’re worried coz your missus or some mates are on one of these – don’t be scared, the F650GS will handle it no worries mate. We ramped them, scraped them, bounced them across gravel and rocks, splashed them across water crossing and the tuff little buggers came out smiling!
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full words at ADVrider - F800/650GS (merged) threadfest
My review (and many others' views) on the F650 and F800: F650/800GS road test reports by UKGSers
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4 Jun 2008
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Thanks for the articles, Tim. May be I forgot to mention, I did test-drive the F800GS, though not the 650. 800 is a solid bike with solid performance, but the look just never rocks my world. It looks to me a wannabe mini-1200GS. Yes, this is the irrational part of the decision. Its capability on highway is unfortunately negated by the useless windshield, so what's the point of having all those horses under the seat when I may be blown off from it. I know Touratech has a large screen which looks like a mini-barndoor, and it said that it is coming up with a larger tank and perhaps the 1200-type Desierto fairing, but next year. We shall see that, but I just can't wait that long.
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4 Jun 2008
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OK, I think I understand now. Looks are very important to you. You are well and truly fixated on the Ténéré despite needing to sit on blankets. And you are not really interested in considering alternatives.
Best that you go and buy it. Good luck.
Tim
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Yes, look is important. Name me one commercially available and street-legal dual purpose bike that actually looks like a rallye bike? I think Tenere comes damned close, and yes I like the rallye look. I would have gone to the F800GS but the look just did not rock my world.
There seems to be kits for lowering the Tenere already and of course people who cut/reshape the foam on the seat. These are the stuff I will have to do if I get the bike, but of course, no dealer would do those modifications first for my test drive.
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4 Jun 2008
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I don't see how people like the look of the Tenere. Am I the only one that thinks it looks like a crasshopper?
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4 Jun 2008
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From left of centre
Possibly slightly off topic but I derive great happiness from having kept an Adventure bike for over 15 years now and updating it as we go, rather than going for some modern overmarketed piece of bling every couple of years. My old girl is tailored absolutely perfectly for my needs now.
It's a '93 Yam XTZ750 (UK to Cape Town/All around Europe/Top to bottom of the whole Middle East) that is having its third reincarnation at the moment, with a gorgeous 850 TDM (270 degree crank) engine and WR450 forks fitted. It will end up lighter than a KTM 990 Adventure and a BMW 12GS with its' Excel rims, Ohlins shock and other bits and bobs, and will definately be more reliable than a KTM. I've blasted it through sand dunes in Saudi Arabia, the mud of the Central African Republic and the German Autobahns - happy days
I know it doesn't directly answer your question but it's food for thought. I don't really keep a record of how much I've spent but over 15 years, but I think my period of bike ownership has been relatively cheap - good job few people think my way else we'd all be stuck in the stone age.
Don't believe the hype !
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6 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmotten
I don't see how people like the look of the Tenere. Am I the only one that thinks it looks like a crasshopper?
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I am chinese, I used to watch the TV show Kung Fu, and I love the shape of the grasshopper! 
I picked up some real-live stats from the Tenere owners:
at 3000 rpm = 90 Km/h
at 4000 rpm = around 118 km/h
at 5000 rpm = around 135 km/h
I can cruis at 140 km/h on highways (around 5200 rpm)
I think it is impressive for a single. If he can cruise at 140 which is my comfort speed anyway, I dig it! They are all at the vib-free range so it seems, as I read some reviews that the vibrations kick in at 5000rpm plus.
Hi Dick, I am wishing to reach to your zen-ness by keeping and riding one and only one bike for a very very long time. I had a BMW 1994 K75RT for a few years, but I wasn't zen enough to resist the temptations of new bikes. Thanks for your advise.
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My Dakar does that. Although now that I changed the gearing to a smaller front sprocket it's up in the 6k for 140, but fiddle with the gearing enough and most singles probably do that. Problem is that you'll pay for it in the dirt though. If you wanna do a lot of 'faster than the speed limit' riding, look for a 6 speed I reckon.
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6 Jun 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmotten
My Dakar does that. Although now that I changed the gearing to a smaller front sprocket it's up in the 6k for 140, but fiddle with the gearing enough and most singles probably do that. Problem is that you'll pay for it in the dirt though. If you wanna do a lot of 'faster than the speed limit' riding, look for a 6 speed I reckon.
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What do you mean I'll pay for it in the dirt?
My comfort range is 120-140km/hr, which is sufficient for the autobahn, as I don't need and want any faster. Though I agree with you on a 6 speed such as my 1200GS if I want any faster.
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6 Jun 2008
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That was a generic 'you', not you personally.
What tmotten is referring to is the problem that bike manufacturers seem unable to grasp the need for a wide choice of ratios that can handle on one extreme the need for a very low offroad first gear, and at the other extreme a high top gear for road liaison stages. Even with a six-speed box BMW doesn't offer the ratios needed for the 12GS, and with a five speed box it's even more likely that bikes won't offer the two extremes, and if you raise the road gearing with different sprockets you adversely affect the offroad gearing.
Tim
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